Exclusive: Aish HaTorah rejects Trump rally after JPost report

Trump and Pence agreed to speak via satellite at the rally which was billed as an event calling for the strengthening of Jerusalem following UNESCO's controversial decision about the Temple Mount.

By GIL HOFFMAN
Updated: OCTOBER 20, 2016 14:18
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a post Republican Convention campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio (photo credit: REUTERS)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a post Republican Convention campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Aish HaTorah rejected a request by the Republican Party to host a rally with speeches by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence next Wednesday after The Jerusalem Post reported exclusively that the event would be held on the organization's rooftop over-looking the Western Wall.
Trump and Pence agreed to speak via satellite at the rally which was billed as an event calling for the strengthening of Jerusalem following UNESCO's controversial decision about the city.
"We decided not to do the event, because Aish is a non-profit that doesn't get involved in partisan politics," Aish director general Rabbi Steven Burg told the Post.
Burg said Aish would do its own event in response to UNESCO "because the real issue is an unjust decision trying to erase the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount." Burg posted The Jerusalem Post article about the rally on Facebook explaining that Aish has decided not to host the event.
He said that he had received protest letters. There was also an outcry on Twitter.
The Republicans will now have to find a new location for their event. Republican officials have been in Israel to plan it.
The list of speakers for the event is not final but Israeli politicians have requested to address the crowd.
Trump's speech is expected to be carried live by American networks.